837.61351/3036: Telegram

The Chargé in Cuba ( Briggs ) to the Secretary of State

320. For Walmsley confirming telephone conversation this morning. The following solution occurs to us with respect to the blackstrap problem facing the Price Control Commission:1

(1)
It appears highly probable that we will not be able to move the entire amount of blackstrap to the United States before the end of this year.
(2)
Storage facilities at certain mills are close to capacity and there exists a possibility that some ditching may occur because of our failure to maintain original transportation schedule.
(3)
The Cuban Government through the Institute would propose in view of the foregoing that we defer until after January 1 next acceptance at port terminal for shipment of not exceeding 10,000,000 gallons of blackstrap, this amount to be transported by us subsequent to that date.

No “loan” would therefore be involved; we would merely be transporting subsequent to next January 1 an amount which in all probability we could not in any case transport before that date.

Briggs
  1. Cuban counterpart of the Office of Price Administration.